Key case



March 21, 1944. W |D I 2,344,581

KEY CASE Filed Oct. 6, 1942 I N V EN TOR.

ATTU R N EYS plastic.

Patented Mar. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY CASE Robert N. Ziegeweid, Arcadia, Wis. Application October 6, 1942, Serial No. 460,977

4 Claims.

I along the line 3-4 of Figure 2;

Figure l is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating one key in its projected position; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5--5 oi Figure 2. i

In the embodiment selected for illustration, 1 make use of a case body In generally rectangular in cross section and comprising two side walls 92, an. end wall H, a bottom wall It: and a top wall l8. This case is preferably formed of a The bottom wall l6 and the top wall it are provided with an equal number of parallel grooves 20 for slidably guiding thin plates 22, each having a conventional key 24 pivotally connected therewith, as at 26.

Each plate 22 has a shank 28 projecting through a slot 30 in the wall l8, these slots being in communication with the grooves 20 in the wall 38. To each of the shanks 28 is connected a knurled button 32 to facilitate sliding movement of its respective plate 22 from a position inside the case [0 to the projected position of Figures 1 and 4.

To the key end of each plate 22 is pivotally connected, also at 26, a plastic head 34 for closing the end of the case In when positioned according to Figure 3. The end wall I4 is slightly rounded and the heads 34 are of similar contour to provide a rounded and contour. Figure 3 illustrates the heads 34. as having snug face to face engagement in their normal positions.

I The end wall I4 is cut away at 36 to provide accommodation for a head 38 on .a name plate M) slidable through an opening 42 in the end H, which name plate is also slidably guided in two of the grooves 20, as in Figure 5.

The grooves 20 in the walls l6 and 18 are spaced sufficiently far apart to provide accommodation for the keys 24 when lying in face to face relationship with their respective plates 22 and inside the key case l0. Such a key case may be manufactured at a relatively low cost and made up in artistic colors or combinations of well balanced colors.

The buttons 32 are easily manipulated to project a selected key from the case I0.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A key case comprising a hollow body having an open end and a wall provided with slots, key carrying members slidably guided in said body to be projected through said open end, the keys being pivotally connected with the respective members to lie in face to face relationship therewith inside the body, and means attached to the respective members and extending through said slots for shifting said members and the keys.

2. The invention described in claim 1 wherein heads are connected with said members and coacting to close said open end.

3. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said body is provided with grooves and in which said members comprise plate-like elements slidable in the grooves.

4. The invention described in claim 1 wherein heads are connected with said members and coacting to close said open end, said heads being pivotally connected with the respective members for pivotal movement about the axes of the keys.

ROBERT N. ZIEGEWEID. 

